The former head of the North Korean embassy in Kuwait says the Pyongyang government will never agree to nuclear disarmament because it considers it necessary for its survival.
A former North Korean diplomat, calling the country’s nuclear disarmament impossible, said Pyongyang’s nuclear program is directly linked to the stability of Pyongyang’s government.
Rio Hyun-woo, the former head of the North Korean embassy in Kuwait – who took refuge in Seoul in September – said in a televised interview that the Pyongyang government would never give up its nuclear weapons because it made its nuclear arsenal the key to its survival.
“Given the possibility of Pyongyang agreeing to negotiate a reduction in its nuclear weapons,” Rio was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency: “But it is not possible for all of them to surrender … North Korea’s nuclear power is directly related to the stability of their government, and Kim [Jong Un] believes that nuclear weapons will help them survive.”
He noting that the former US administration had limited itself to negotiations with North Korea by requesting a complete nuclear disarmament without preamble, said: “Of course, the [new] US government cannot refrain from [requesting] nuclear disarmament, and neither can Kim Jong Un.”
Earlier, South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on the new US administration led by Joe Biden to resume talks with North Korea, and Seoul announced his readiness to mediate between the two sides.
Last week, White House spokeswoman Jennifer Sackey said Washington was working on a new strategy to counter North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, claiming that North Korea’s nuclear weapons program posed a serious threat to the United States and its allies.